- Date
- June 24, 1985, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Callahan, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Unknown
- Aircraft
- N31JNRolladen-Schneider LS3-A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850624027849A
- Case key
- 24517
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt was participating in a x-country soaring competition. He released from the tow at 5,000 ft above sea level. About one hour later he imformed his crew by radio that he had covered 80 percent of the first leg and that he was 'doing fine.' The flt did not return and the wreckage was found the following morning 35 miles south of the departure point. There was no evidence of a pre-impact malfunction or failure of the sail-plane. The plt was certificated and qualified for the flt. Other contestants reported the weather was clear with strong, gusty surface winds.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N31JN
- Reported as
- Rolladen-Schneider LS3-A
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 3353
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Larry Ferguson
- Registered owner
- Michael J. Mulcahy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 17, 1985
- Departed
- SIY · Montague, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 215 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MFR, 65 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.